CHAPTER NINETEEN

 

The Woods Citizens Against Crime patrol was divided into groups of four and equipped with flashlights, whistles, energy, and strength in numbers.

The Herreras and Bonets patrolled The Woods Park this night, looking for anything or anyone that seemed suspicious or threatening. They had decided to focus on areas outside the well-lit jogging paths, tennis courts, and gardens, where a killer was most likely to lay in wait.

“He probably won’t show his face while we’re out here,” Marvin grumbled.

“That’s the whole point,” Quinn said. “If he knows we’re here, he’ll think twice about going after another female—especially in this park!”

“I just want him caught,” said Elisa.

“Me, too,” Selene said as she kept pace next to Quinn.

They approached a cluster of trees and some thick bushes that could be an ideal hiding place. Selene thought she saw something and reacted, catching Quinn’s attention.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I’m not sure,” she said. “Maybe nothing.”

They heard a noise coming from the same direction, putting everyone on guard.

“Who the hell’s in there?” demanded Marvin, as all four flashlights pointed toward the bushes.

There was no response, but they could see the bushes moving. While Selene and Elisa took an involuntary step backwards, the men looked at each other with nerves of steel.

“Let’s take him...” Quinn said bravely.

“I’m with you, man.”

“Be careful,” Selene uttered.

Quinn nodded and coordinated his attack plan with Marvin, before lunging into the bushes with a thud. With her flashlight pinned on the pair, Selene watched as a raccoon darted out of the bushes, scurrying off in the opposite direction.

“Looks like you two bozos nearly snared a raccoon,” laughed Elisa. “That ought to be worth about a buck-twenty-five from the reward money.”

Selene chuckled. “If you guys hurry, you might still be able to catch the culprit!”

When Quinn and Marvin emerged from the bushes, they were laughing with embarrassment, but no worse for the wear.

“Well, it was good practice anyway,” Quinn said. “It might come in handy later.”

“Yeah,” Marvin said as the two men brushed themselves off and the seriousness of Quinn’s prophetic words dawned on them.

Soon another patrol group, which included Todd Foxworth and Julian McKenzie, joined them. They were forcibly holding a short, thin man in his early twenties.

“What’s up with him?” Quinn asked.

Julian gave his captive a dirty look and said, “Caught the son of a bitch trying to steal an old lady’s purse.”

“We’re escorting him to the police,” Todd said, “whether he likes it or not.”

Marvin glared at the young man. “You picked the wrong night to do something so stupid. Hope it was worth it to you.”

The man grumbled, but gave no decipherable response.

“Any sign of other criminal activity?” Selene asked Todd.

Todd shook his head. “Afraid not. Our strangler seems to have taken tonight off, at least in the park.”

“Yeah, but there’s always someone else more than happy to cause trouble,” barked Julian, glaring at the thief.

“Well that’s one less person causing trouble tonight,” Quinn muttered.

Selene wasn’t sure if that made her feel any safer or not. She had a feeling the killer welcomed this distraction and was somewhere lying in wait to strangle an unsuspecting woman again.

* * *

Much later that night, he walked around the park by himself, as he often liked to, pondering the events of the day as though viewing a movie in his head. He was amused that The Woods watchdogs were trying to play heroes and catch him.

Did they really think he would play hide and seek with them just to make someone’s day?

Not a chance.

Give him some credit for having a brain. This thing wasn’t going to be over till he was good and ready for it to be. And that time was not here yet.

Quite the contrary, he was just starting to hit his stride going after the lovely babes. If they made themselves available to him without much of a fuss, could he be blamed for what happened as a result?

He sucked in the fresh night air and contemplated his next move and his next victim.

A smile curved his lips as he calmly walked through the park and back into his unsuspecting life.